Transcripts For CSPAN Washington Journal 20140304

What you think the Budget Priorities should be. Phone lines are open. Republican guest , democrats 202 7370001 and independence 202 6280205. You can catch up with us on facebook or email us. Morning fortuesday you. Want to take you to the story and politico talking about the budget plan set to be released. Oday challenges on the homefront. President barack obama facing a major war and policy test. Tuesday he will have to pause for the ritualistic domestic politics of the budget. He writes another split screen moment for the white house that is filled with quite a few of them and underscores how difficult it is for obama to set the agenda. Will follow on the state of the union address. Thatll avoid entitlement has been widely handled i liberals. The story notes that budget at thes are often shady best. This year will be no different. The critical spending caps that will keep the government open our are ready in place and they have reason to avoid cuts on the appropriation bill before november. As tradition big tapes, washington sure to proceed with a mad dash to analyze and pick apart the goodies stuffed into the white house budget. As we go through the budget, we want to get your thoughts on what the priorities are for the president s 2015 spending plan. This covers less than a third of the approximately three. 5 trillion 3. 5 there likely to spend in 2015. The president s outline is being released today and will parcel out 1. 04 trillion dollars. This was set by a recent budget deal and forces them to make difficult cuts among the programs he wants. We will go through the programs in the first 45 minutes of washington journal this morning. In on theeady coming twitter page. George kelly writes Edward Perkins writes congress will rip his budget to shreds anyhow. Facebook page, follow along with those conversations i facebook. Com cspan. Robert wright and on the Facebook Page this morning. You can join the conversation taking place there. Our first call on the line for independent. Caller i would like to see him concentrate on jobs. Host how would you like to see him do that in the budget plan . Caller i think he has an american jobs act or some type of program, infrastructure, etc. , etc. They really need to concentrate on jobs here in the state of pennsylvania. Reuters reports obama once of 402 billion dollar plan to repair deteriorating roads and transit projects. They will pay for the tax rates to pay for that. Most definitely. Caller our roads are awful. We have a lot of state roads. Repair work would really help. Where else do you see Jobs Available besides Infrastructure Spending . Where else do you think the government can help create jobs . Caller i think in the technology,system, private sector. Help bringons would about income to a level of being able to take care of your family, cover your living expenses. If that was not for unions, we would not be able to watch you on television right now. So they can rip off citizens and keep low wages and make big profits. Thank you. Calling in from philadelphia, pennsylvania. Fish and sam says the president s budget should be how not to spend others money. Also, dean writes in, too bad the gop will kill his budget. Are they totally heartless . Commentspage, several on that. Allen writes in on her thoughts on the president s budget plan. She says stop messing around with other peoples lives. We will continue to bring you comments. We want to hear you on the phone. The phone lines are open. Ruben in philly on the line for democrats. Good morning. Caller i am doing fine. To see them stop concentrating so much on what is going on outside the United States like in the ukraine. Many problems here dealing with our own people getting jobs. We have a lot of schools closed recently. A lot of the unemployment has run out. Part of the short term unemployed. Part of the seasonal workers. We need to concentrate on the spending bill. Wage isthe minimum great because gas prices are going up every day. Agriculture is going up and even the price of beef is going up. I think 10. 10 is still an insult and slap in the face but it is what it is and showing they do care about the people. Host you said there should be less spending overseas. How do you feel there has been an effort to get the u. S. To fund or send funds to the ukraine to help amid the crisis going on over there to help the people over there . Do you think that is a good place to spend money right now for the United States . Caller i think a good place to spend money right now is in the United States. They have school closings. Trying to get 340 5 million just to keep some of the schools open. Callingben in philly him. John and indiana calling in. Good morning to you. I am big on education. My parents were educators and my wife teaches at a charter school. I do a lot of volunteer work and Teach Sunday School to immigrants. It is very important to understand the economic policies right now that are a big hindrance. Even though i am a republican, i look at the countrys policies and they are really hurting us. People. Taxing too many the revenues brought in are more than they have ever been and we are spending much more. Seems like there is a lot of fat going to political friends of the president and a lot of bashing of people whose ideas are different. The way i listen to it, there is a lot of ideas out there. If you look act to the Ronald Reagan years, there was a cutting of taxing during clinton and the republicans worked together. This president is not doing that. The budget does not represent what i would like to see. Our kids and grandkids will pay for this. I trillion dollars in the budget. 90 of the current federal budget that could be cut out i mean thecaller revenue that we bring in, 10 should be the maximum that we have on any kind of budget. You mentioned education spending. Here is what reuters says will be in the budget. Obama will renew his call for universal prekindergarten and expanding the head start program. Your thoughts on those proposals . Caller if you have ever looked to education, it says when kids are younger they need to do more experimental things been in the classroom. The problem with younger kids when they are in lower economics, they need to be raised properly. A lot of the major problems we find with kids that come from low income families is that they do not understand even the basic alphabet. Those things are great for them to be trained. Once they come to the classroom him if they have been so neglect and into prek years that these are the ones who need it. That have families where there is education from parents and are interacting, money cannot be spent on that. We simply did not have that resource because it is so high. We have to stop spending money where it is not needed and only the areas where it is definitely needed. Theincome families were kids are neglected, i can understand that. Otherwise, no. John and indiana calling in. One to bring in a staff writer at the hill as we talk about the 2015 spending plan set to be released today. Whiteory in the hill house touts tax breaks in the budget. Host the white house last night had a release of the tax break expansions for the middleclass. They were not that big of a surprise. President obama said he wanted to exam the tax income earned credit. To more expand childless workers. 35 million. They would see a tax relief from this. The only way they would pay for this is by closing to loopholes. One of this is the green tinge gingrich. Ridge that is essentially an employee salary. This is a kerry interest loophole. This allows managers to pay 23 tax rate instead of 29. 6. He sees expansion. They are also expansions of childcare, credits and some other educational tax breaks as well. You mentioned no surprises in the tax break story youre talking about. Surprises anywhere else in the budget . What is being most closely watched this morning cap come guest i will look at how much spending and debt and economic rejections. This will be interesting where obama and the white house will say this is what we think unemployment will look like, the economy will look like. Is going tobudget spend around 3. 7 trillion or so. We want to see exactly what he is recommending for each show agency and the deficit projections for 10 years. They say it will be low work, but how to make at work. Obama will not be including the chain cpi proposal. Inflation is measured that would have the effect of lowering Social Security benefits and other federal benefits. The aarp andsed by liberals in congress. Arguing itthat out, was a all a branch for republicans. Not willing to do a big deal on the deficit in order to get things under control. By taking that out, they will lose 230 billion or so in deficit reduction. Already we know one of the ways will be assuming the Senate Passes and immigration overall. Go much does that cost you these are the kinds of things we will be looking for. Perhaps the least effective budgets we have seen in years because congress are it has a toplines appropriations number for this year. They are are ready holding hearings. This is entitlement overhaul out of the midterm. How is the budget actually released today, and to are the surrogates that the white house is sending to capitol hill over the next coming days to talk about the president spending plan . 11 30. We will see it at it used to be they handed out copies to the press but that has been curtailed. Theave been told that Historical Perspective volume, usually an interesting economic here this week, will have the main budget all human independent, they will be available at 11 30 and then a noontime press conference. Andell from West Virginia pretty much wellliked on all sides of the aisle will be going to the house and Senate Budget committee in order to present this tomorrow. Secretary lou, the treasury secretary who used to run the Budget Office will appear before the Senate Finance committee. This is pretty standard as far as the rollout. Often the budget comes right after the state of the union with a lot of talk show. Ppearances we have not seen that level rollout because the budget is said to have less of an impact this year. Host eric lawson, thank you for joining us. You can see his story at thehill. Com. Were taking your comments, thoughts and get your take on the president s 20 15 spending plan. What do you think your prayer days would be for the proposal . Ore details as it is released expected to come out later this morning. Certainly a subject we will talk about in the next coming days. Here is the front page story on todays Washington Times. The president the budget released tuesday house more to political realities than the fiscal picture of the white house looks to do no wrong. It quotes laura brown, director of the graduate school of political management at George Washington university saying you can review it as a reflection on the priorities for spending, and that means likely to have a lot of bullet points and Campaign Stickers in it. We will give you more information as the budget comes out. Good morning to you. Caller good morning. Concern is that it will be difficult to achieve or withoutconomic growth considering a number of factors. Number one, the Internal Revenue service code. You cannot possibly encourage investment here in america and Foreign Investment here in america. If the tax code is stagnant, and ordinary taxpayer here. Many businesses go to other countries because of this. Meant off the harris the people in the Internal Revenue service. Many of them went to other countries by the thousands. Earningthe people here four dollars, five dollars per people inubjected to the Internal Revenue service. You mentioned the irs. What other concerns do you have . Is ordinaryoncern people here in america, ordinary taxpayer. They are now making good profit, good income. Many of them do not want to lend money. They did not lose even a single sense when they lend the money to young people in business. Because the requirement is so cumbersome. Many requirements for delay in the loan. Even in the terms and condition of the loan, it is a onesided contract. Caller from chicago, illinois, with his concerns about the u. S. Economy and the the United States. Talking about the 2015 budget eating released today. We want to hear what your priorities would be in that plan. Marie tweeps, no more money should be spent on climate change, and we have people starving and jobless in the United States. Issue,climate change saidrs notes the president he will ask for 1 billion for our Climate Resiliency fund. Going to joseph waiting in new york on the line for independents. Good morning. Just a couple of comments. Appreciate cspan. I do not know if obama even watches cspan. As far as numbers and the budget plan, i do not really keep tabs on that. However, i think they should say no to the pipeline. There are not too many people have the about it. It, they cano to tear this thing apart for america. We could get more jobs if they want to ship the oil down to the gulf. Say no to the pipeline. Definitely create a lot of jobs for americans. That is really the last thing we need. Joseph calling in from new york this morning. Talking about it at the end of the show. The next guest will be talking about the budget issues as well. We want to bring you up to date for the latest on the crisis in ukraine. Later in the show we will have a former Ukrainian Ambassador to the ukraine, stephen pifer. Here is front pages from ukraine showing pictures from the crisis on the ground there. And another front page from a ukrainian paper. Here is a paper out of london. Tightening in crimea. The front page of usa today this morning. It notes William Hague on monday called the standoff in the ukraine the biggest crisis in europe of the 21stcentury. Michael frohmans office said it has suspended upcoming bilateral trade and investment talks with russia. Originally estimating 6000 troops were dispatched to crimea , but the mission to the United Nations said monday 16,000 had been deployed. Out more landry grabs and prorussian eastern ukraine. Speaking to the radio say in fresh is now an operational control of the region and europe and the u. S. Were discussing what actions to take to reverse the operation. Saying that on the parents for abc radio. The latest news from this morning from the wires on that front. Agencythat the interfax had ordered troops participating in western russia near the Ukrainian Border to return to the permanent basis. Hetold the spokesman that had ordered the troops to return to their usual station. This almost a week after russia began massive exercises involving most illiterate units in russia, fears that they may seek military action in eastern ukraine. The president p, vladimir making comments that have been picked up across the wires. On tuesday he slammed the takeover by new authorities there. The ukraine president of an anticonstitutional and armed seizure of power. His first comment on the crisis since the ousting of yanukovych. Sanctionsop russian crisis. Ea sanctions that the u. S. Looking to impose on highlevel washington officials involved in the military occupation of crimea. Much more on that later in the show today. Those are just some of the headlines this morning. Talking about the budget for the next 15 minutes or so. We want to hear your budgets Budget Priorities for 2015. Linees bobby on the from louisiana. Good morning. I will try to go as quickly as i possibly can. We are facing socialist economics. All we need to do is suspend the dead limits of the government can then and into oblivion. Also, i will tell you, what is really going on with the ukraine incident. It is a trade war. [inaudible] bobby calling in from belizean that bringing up ukraine again. One more headline on that topic. Front page of the Financial Times oil prices and the effects of what is happening. Also want to play you the president made comments here is the latest for what obama had to say. Is largelythe world united. Is in tag return integrity and the violation of international law. Violation of previous agreements and how it has made treats and respects neighbors. As a consequence, strong statements from nato. Condemning the actions that russia has taken. Host president obama from the white house yesterday. Here is a map showing military facilities in ukraine and crimea that have been surrounded by russian. Those are the red boxes on this map. Our checkpoint set up by russians to the mainland of ukraine. A map of the situation there. Will cover that with the former u. S. Ambassador to the ukraine later. But we are talking about the president s 25th in budget plan. In pennsylvania on the line for independents. Good morning. See howi would like to much in the budget they have for foreign aid, how much money in loans we are giving away and how much money were spending in afghanistan and iraq. Most of the loans to these countries are never paid act. That is the working tax payers money. We will not take care of her own people here in this country. The infrastructure is falling down. Education. That is the taxpayer money. This should be approved somehow by boat. People cannot just throw it around however they like. Pennsylvania. Rom thank you for the call this morning. Getting comments on email. Jersey,es in from new is it a balanced budget . They are running out of things to tax. Also, on the twitter page, several more comments, jake pryde writes in my concern would have to be Public Education spending. We need to give students individualized education and more opportunities. Writing in the president s budget gets to the poor, gop to the wealthy. Can you say robin hood . One other tweet from bill who writes cancel the show, here agreed that he will not let the budget come to the floor of the senate so why are there with this crap . Join the conversation at cspan on our facebook age. Independents 202 6280205. So on the phone line. Good morning. Your Budget Priority for fiscal 2015. I think both parties should cut back and cut something. Seems like republicans have way too much military budget and the democrats spend too much on welfare. We really need to cut back. People realize the consequences of the huge debt that we are destroying the value of the currency and it is making us as a country more and more poor. I think people on either end need to give a little and focus on this focus on ourselves for a while and get our fiscal house back in order. Mentioned military spending. Information on that that came out last week and a preview from the pentagon on their budget plan. The president wants to shrink the army to the lowest level since world war ii and eliminate the popular aircraft to reduce military benefits. The pentagon budget begins an estimated 496 billion, about the same amount as the current fiscal year. Agree with those changes, more or less . Caller i believe in a strong military. Conflicts weed in should not. We are heavily involved in , and they israel drive a lot of aggression in the middle east. I think we need to pick our battles. When youre 16 trillion in debt, do not have the luxury to be the peacekeeper of the world. Until were are in a better position financially, i really do not think we can afford to do what we are doing. We would be better off getting ourselves in a better financial situation and be more secure it stop havingy if we bases all over the world and getting involved in other conflicts. Emailrom indiana on our. Philip writes on the twitter page, radical right in. Eight bills being considered in the house under suspension of the rules, suspension of the National Flood insurance premium. We talked about being considered, a resolution to support the efforts of the venezuelan people to to peacefully protest for Democratic Change in their country and call for an end to the violence there, as well as a bill that would direct the president to report to congress on efforts to enhance cooperation between the United States and ease through israel. According to mark noller, reporter covering the white house, this is president obamas 11th round of talks since taking office. The Washington Post has a bit of a wrapup of that meeting, noting that time is running out. He pressed the Prime Minister on monday to accept a u. S. Sponsored framework for final peace talks with the palestinians. Atma made up personal appeal the white house offering reassurance that the united and trying for two state solution. Quote, tough decisions will have to be made told obama to reporters. That story brings up ongoing negotiations with iran on the Nuclear Program. A joint release from eric cantor and House Democratic whip, steny hoyer yesterday. Urging obama to keep all options on the table. Leadership. Rty they write the history of delay, deception and assembling of the Nuclear Program raises serious concerns that they will use prolonged negotiations as a tool to secure an economic lifelong lifeline while they make congress towards a nuclear weapons. That goes on to note we are hopeful of the two track strategy and will convince them to change course. The latest on that front from leaders on capitol hill. Five minutes to continue to talk about the president s budget being released today. A subject we will tackle in the next segment. Phone, waiting in pennsylvania on the line for independent. Caller good morning. I am hanging in there. The reason i am calling is back in december they stop longterm unemployment. There has not been that much the last time they voted they missed it by one vote. There is still nothing being done to help those of us out of work, plus i have well over 1000 applications out there. They do not ask for your age but ask where the date you graduated from high school. Do the math, and you will find out i am 80 years old and no one wants to hire me. I wish they would get up off of it and stop giving to everyone else and leaving us sitting there with no money coming in. I hate it. You say you have about 1000 applications out there. How long do you expect to be working for . Caller i will work for as long as i can get up out of the chair. Host how long have you been looking for work . Caller since april of last year. Has been the biggest holdback for you as you search . Caller my age. Host is there Something Congress can do for you . Caller they can pass the extension on unemployment and make it illegal for them to ask the date you graduate from high school. Number one, they cannot ask for your age, but if you do the math, 1952, she had to be at least 18. So we do a little bit of math and almost at my age. Going to diane waiting in tennessee. Good morning. The United States is meddling and everyone elses business. We have a war here, war against the poor. They will not extend unemployment for people but expect you to go over there and fight a war. It will not help people down on their luck, out of work. People not want to help get food stamps to survive. Foryou can take the money different countries. Host are you looking for work . Caller no, i am not. I am on disability. I worked as a nanny. I worked in restaurants. Help support my family. In this field, they are talking about helping other people. We have force, gangs, terrorists. Else,nt to help everybody except the working people. Give me one more minute. About allhere talking these people around debating. Republicans do not want to do anything. It is going down the drain. America wake up. In fromane calling tennessee. Matilda wrightson over email. Conservatives work on paying down the debt so as not to burden the next generation. In overda writes email. That was matilda over email. Gina waiting on the line for republicans. Good morning. Go ahead. What i want them to add in the budget is a new department or the government, and it is called department of oversight. I want all of the fraud and abuse for the people that get the free money every year, especially the people that get the earned income credit, i want oversight and how they spend that money. Every year it is the same thing. I am sitting at my job i have been added for many years, almost 20 years, and i watch people get 6,000 back, which puts them making more than i do is waste, they waste, waste. Same thing with food stamps. I think if were going to live in a socialist country, which we have almost become now, where so many of the population gets the free money and free things from the government, i want it regulated. Are you satisfied with the oversight mechanisms they have certainly caller i am. The middleclass, who has worked all their life and has to pay in so many taxes and you watch so many people who get this money back every year, it is so irritating. The oversight government reform committee, do you follow them on hill . Ol hill jacob caller when you are in the general public and see the fraud, waste and abuse that goes on, you will ninth why you will know why most of the middleclass americans that work hard are so angry. All you democrats, and i know there are a lot of people who legitimately need the money and do not waste it, but when you see the waste, especially with the young people who have the anddren out of the block then get rewarded for it. It is infuriating. Host that is going to do it for the first 45 minutes here on the washington journal. Up next, we are joined by robert costa. Formerstephen pifer, u. S. Ambassador to the ukraine joins us to discuss the ongoing crisis in that country. We will be right back. [captioning performed by national captioning institute] [captions Copyright National cable satellite corp. 2014] cspan, we bring Public Affairs events from washington directly to you, putting you in the room with congressional hearings, White House Events, three things andcant conferences offering complete gavel to gavel coverage of the u. S. House. Cspan, created by the cable tv industry 35 years ago and funded by your local cable or satellite provider. Like us on facebook and follow us on twitter. Washington post national costacal reporter robert joins us. We are waiting for the release of the president s budget but your front page post talked about the budget that it will set up the debate on poverty. Talk about your story this morning. Great to be here. What were seeing from president obama is a move towards the midterm elections. We are seeing the release of election your documents. Blueprints for the party. Moving towards a compromise on capitol hill but that are establishing where they want to go, how they would govern if they could have a majority in either chamber. Mention paul ryans release yesterday. What was that documents . Guest i spoke to chairman ryan over the weekend and he decided to issue what he called a rebuttal prebottle prebuttle. The spending in fiscal year 2012 on antipoverty programs and gives an analysis. He does not necessarily offer specific recommendations. Those will come later. But he does look at the war on poverty, starting with president johnson launched it in 1964 and traces the evolution to the present day. Host what is the conclusion he reaches . His conclusion is a lot of the programs have good intentions but not well coordinated. He is delicate in the analysis. Programs like medicaid and head start he was quite scathing. He said the programs really need to be reforms. He knows that the Republican Party is struggling ahead of the midterms. He is trying to offer almost a gentle analysis to get the republicans competitive on the property issue. The New York Times Editorial Board took up the proposal released by paul ryan yesterday. Want to show the viewers that and read them a little bit from what they wrote about that. The headline small ideas on poverty. It writes is that a fairer assessment by the Editorial Board this not judgeuest i will the New York Times Editorial Board but i will say he is mounting a difficult endeavor. When you look at the poverty report in the past six budget. You see he is trying to go after poverty programs to reform welfare, and a lot of times that does mean cuts and cuts to programs i can start and medicaid and programs that are very important to a lot of people. His argument is from a conservative side that maybe those programs can be reformed, even if that means a reduction in funding, they can serve People Better. To make anis hard argument about poverty that goes beyond how much something should be funded but that is what he is trying to do. He has struggled the past few years when it comes to spending. He is doing the same. It is difficult to talk about the programs beyond the funding levels. That is where president obama also recognized republicans may have not necessarily a weakness but a place where democrats can truly crash clash with them and maybe score points. Maybe more of a political document this year heading into the elections. Is that a sense that this is more about talking points now than passing a real budget . Guest yes and no. I think the budget wars are a little bit complicated. There is some room for potential talk. We all know a budget deal was struck by House Republicans and democrats. Fiscal Year Spending has already been set. You have seen Senate Democrats decide not to propose a budget this year. It will run on the president s budget for the most part. The senate will not have a budget. Ryan will likely have a budget that will pass the house later this spring. Where are the areas of compromise . If you look mostly at the president s budget, you see an earned income tax credit. That is being offered by the president as something that should be expanded. If you look at the poverty report monday, he praises the earned income tax credit. Republicans have different views. Use all marco rubio in the senate talk about killing the program. Marco rubio in the senate talking about killing the program. The earned income tax credit, which the president wants to expand, was really a republican proposal a few decades ago. Republicans like having people work and having people reported for work. This could be an area where there are twin carried tinkering. Expand the like to tax reduction for families who have children. Republicans have been focusing on this for the past year. Mike lee, one of the most conservative members has been talking about using the tax credit as the core of what republicans have. See at least two areas there could be talks. Credits, we are seeing political messaging more than anything else. Host what are the expectations for how the budget process is going to work on capitol hill . Will the Senate Passed their own budget . The senate has announced they will not pass a budget this year. I think patty murray, the head of the budgeting for the Senate Democrats, she believes that because of the budget deal she struck with chairman brian, that it is not necessary to go debate in a long budget this year because the fiscal caps are already set. I think ryan knows his budget will likely only passed the house. I think the budgeting has already been set for the most part. Dave camp just proposed a big passage in the house that looks at reforming the individual rate and the Corporate Tax rate. In obamas budget you see the president saying lets reform Corporate Taxes, get rid of reductions. Deductions. Republicans want a wholesale reform of the tax code and say it change individual and Corporate Tax rate, lower them both. I think Corporate Tax reform, Child Tax Credit these are areas of discussion. I think most people on capitol hill believe expectations are low. This is an Election Year. A budgetl ryan having in the house. If he does not get democrats to support the budget plan, how likely is it republicans can move it on their own party boat . How much dissent will he run into . Very i think that is a tough question for chairman brian right now. When you look at the budget deal passed in december and brought up in the house, 62 republicans defect it on the budget deal. They did not like the compromises or how it was formed. One of the most popular republicans in the house. I would venture to say he has can eventical capital john boehner. He really carries weight with in the house. For someone with that kind of stature in the house on the key budget deal, 62 republican defections shows you how difficult it will be to pass his own budget. We did see this beaker talk about this project. Balanced budget, does not have too much in terms of a budget deal or a deal towards compromise, i think it could safely past the house. Anything passing the house, because republicans are so divided, how to have an agenda, i think it will be struggle to get to 218 republican vote. Host talking to robert costa, National Political reporter. If you have questions or comments, give us a call. Phone minds are open. Numbers are on the screen. Collars are ready waiting to talk to you. Starting with all the in philadelphia on the line for independents. Good morning. Caller good morning, gentlemen. Every time you talk about a budget am a you always hear about Social Security, medicaid and medicare going broke but you never hear about food stamps, welfare, public housing. They are never going broke. As far as earned tax income credit, one caller said these people make more money than they ever paid in. Plus, the child credit. How many of those checks are going to mexico . You talk about an air of spring, getting really close to an american spring. People are fed up with this stuff. You all at her wake up pretty you People Better wake up pretty damn click is all i have to say. Guest thanks for your question. Countyup in bucks pennsylvania. I think when you look at the debate right now, i think your argument is being heard from a lot of people on the right side of the ideal. I talked to stephen moore. He said there is a backlash among many conservatives about the expansion of the social afety net, especially during time of recovery there is backlash. I think that president is quite confident with the budget today that an expansion of spending on the programs will be political politically potent and important for democrats this fall, especially in red states. I think the argument is being that and the line is being drawn. Republicans are not going as hard as welfare as they have in the past. This is a really interesting moment. It is the First Time Since 1996 when bipartisan reform was passed that you see republicans going at this, but they are doing it in a way that is cognizant of the political matters. They know that winning low and middle income voters is difficult or the. For them. Host hairy. You are on with robert costa. Knowr i would like to that this budget include paying back the bondholders to General Motors . Guest i am not sure. I have read a lot of the proposals in memo form. I have not seen anything about that. Bailout,oint about the just like the previous caller, bob, when i am out there on the campaign trail, talking to voters ahead of the midterms, bailoutsre hear mentioned. This is something the president is grappling with. He wants to see more funding for infrastructure, antipoverty programs, but at the same time he and his aides are well aware this is a divided government, in many ways a divided country, politically. He is not going to appeal to people lifting the bailouts as the number one issue, but that the stance the white house is going to take. The how do you feel about bailouts . What are your top issues . Caller i would like the people that this administration took their life savings, i would like them to be paid back. Pay back some, but they will not pay back us. With what you have seen what the president is doing today is actually a quite populist budget, and ryans report on monday had a similar air of populism that might not address exactly your frustration, but it is in the ballpark. There are a lot of voters looking for a more populist message, a real appeal and agenda for people struggling, voters, but income middleclass voters people that run businesses, people that are in industry. There is a sense among the leadership of both parties that that is where the key swing is right now in 2014. Host a call a comment from facebook and then a twoweek. Bob says with all of the minus opposition, he he might as all try to push a bus up a steep hill. James is asking why are we talking about a budget that will not ever be voted on . Guest there is some cynicism about the budgeting process, but remember, in december, there was a budget deal struck. It was a rare moment when pay ryan and Paul Ryan Patty Murray and paul ryan were able to come together. What comes to the floor and what does not come to the floor is a decision for party leaders, but the process is important because it enables observers, voters, the press to understand should a party when control of the senate, the house, or the white house, where would they go with the country. The budget might not be passed on the floor of the congress in either chamber, but it will be parsed over by voters a cousin has details. Paul ryans previous budgets have shown a reduction in social safety net spending, a reduction in medicaid, head start, food stamps, and that really set the tone for the republicans message, and with the president , he is focusing on the poor, on lowincome voters, abc details of that in his budget that is one of the best ways to understand where people stand. Host roanoke, virginia. Cornelius. You are on with robert costa. Caller how are you doing. Guest good morning. Caller look, i am calling about what is going on. Frustrated about this extension of unemployment, for one thing. First of all, what they did wrong, when they started it off to extend unemployment for a year, that is the wrong thing they did. Then they tried for six months, and then they wanted to extend it for three months, and then they still voted against it. They wont pass it because the next thing they did wrong was and then, also, a lot of people are losing homes. They do not have income coming in. Also, i know quite a few people that have lost their homes, had utilities cut off. There are people starving. A lot of people have been looking for jobs for more than six months. Host robert costa, where are we on Unemployment Insurance . Guest i think that is a correct assessment in some sense in that there is not a deal struck yet our longterm Unemployment Insurance, how long they should be extended. I think there is a reluctance, when i talk to my republican sources, about extending a program too long. You see that in this ryan report and other documents. A look at Unemployment Insurance and other social programs and wonder how long they should be extended, and the president says not only should they be extended, that funding should be increased. The Unemployment Insurance debate is part of what the president is doing today with his budget. It is really seizing the issues, the concerns of low income americans, and finding a way to make that a political agenda to have program and policy recommendations that appeal to them and using their frustration, perhaps, with republicans on capitol hill who have ideological, fiscal, and political reasons for opposing these extensions, and using that to draw a line between the parties. Host dorothy in baltimore, maryland, on our line for independents. Good morning, you are on washington journal. Caller good morning, gentlemen. Toave a couple of things think about. Why do people call cuts reforms . Just cutting something is not a reform. People talk about welfare, it does need to be reformed, but they could have job training or assistance on the side so they could help you find a job while they give you help. That is something that could be reformed. Security hasocial 2. 7 trillion in surplus, and i believe and this is just me believing this because nobody has said it this is why the republicans want to go after it because this money is owed to us from the government, and if they do the things they want to do, they will never have to pay it to us. Host what is your question . Caller my question is what in continued spending from before obama got into office continued spending and not new spending . Host robert costa . Guest most of the budget is continued spending, if that is how we want to frame it. It is programs that have been in place and passed by congress and continue to be supported by congress. You have seen an increase in spending and asking for fresh spending on defense issues in spending. N of fresh if you look at our stores on nutrition, health for low income families, housing those types of things. The budget is a way to reach forward with continued funding. The new stories, the earned credit, the Child Tax Credit, that is news coming out of the budget. Host any thoughts on the differences between cuts and reforms, what she brought up earlier . Guest that is a great point because cuts, are, of course, cuts. What republicans are trying to is not the cast as the party of coldhearted budgetcutting. Ryan struggled with this is a issueskesman on poverty for the last several years. Republicans are trying to talk about poverty reform. And ryan talks about the importance of job training and work for these programs. Reform case for broader is that breaking through for republicans . It is difficult to say. I do not think so, yeah a lot of ways. There,hen you are out you hear questions like hers, is this just budget cuts. Parties are both trying for reform. Is purelyents budget not just an increase in funding and spending recommendations, report and likely budget merely budget cuts. There are reforms in both. Host smiley is asking on our have budget why spend so hard to pass in the last five years than the previous years . Guest they have become political documents. They are not areas where politicians could bottle up and hash out a deal. That happened in december, and was a surprise. As i said, it is a way to establish where they would like to go with funding. It is hard to pass them because his divided government the senate is controlled by, kratz, the house i republicans. Controlled by democrats, the house by republicans. That limits even Republican Leaders from passing things that will get majority republican support. In the senate, harry reid has declined to even have a budget this year. Ryan, because it would likely be a republican budget, it will not have a chance in the senate, and that is because we are in an Election Year. The only time in this climate we have seen budget deals is way before the election, where we saw that last year. Host we are talking with robert thea, reporter with Washington Post. Here to answer your questions and take your comments. Pennsylvania. Our line for democrats. Good morning. R i wanted to discuss means testing, and have further elaboration on what that meant. It has been tossed around in the political world, and i wanted to find out how that is used to address the feasibility of programs and whether they should be cut or not. Seen a largee not focus on means testing. By the federal government on your means, how much you make, and that determines how much you qualify for certain subsidies or tax credits. Republicans often want to raise the bar for these means the threshold for entry into these programs, in order to cut back on spending levels. That is not really part of the discussion right now. We have seen, for example, on Social Security, the president has declined in this current i,dget to include chained cp which is the way Social Security benefits are castrated. Calculated. It is difficult in an Election Year to talk about raising the age or the threshold because it controversial. Host you are known as a guy with great sources on capitol hill, have you heard reactions boehnerterview speaker said about being reelected speaker where he what is the reaction been . Guest we could discuss Speaker John Boehner four hours. We see a reinvigorated speaker. Laster during the shutdown, he was thought to be on his last leg. He decided to go through with a shutdown because conservatives were pushing him in that direction. To my surprise and the surprise of others, john boehner has emerged in a stronger position because he went through with the shutdown. Conservatives have applauded him. They said this is a speaker that speaks for us. There are a lot of retirement rumors out there that after maybe the midterms he would retire and go back to ohio one maybe his new condo in florida, but i actually ran into him, and i said i had one question, and room,s hustling roomto and i said a lot of people think your purchase of a condo signals looming retirement, and he looked at me and laughed and i said you do not have a comment, and he said that is absolutely not true. So in this interview with the cincinnati inquirer, and his brief exchange with the Washington Post, he is pushing back and retirement rumors. It does not necessarily mean he is a leader in divided government, but in terms of political survival, he is in a decent spot. Host is there anything to read into in that he was not invited to speak at the conference . Snub byalled a conservative activist. Best he knows he will never a favorite and a lot of conservative groups are targeting him and said of his own interest, and it is a snubict, and it is cnu to not be invited to the conference, but he is trying to manage a party with many different blocks. He is a man of the institution. He loves working here. He loves being in the house. If he is not a conservative superstar like ted cruz or sarah palin, that is ok by him. Those a be the highlights of seatac host those will be ac . Highlights of cp guest i think it could be done launch of ted cruzs president ial campaign. There is nobody on the right that appeals with the social residentives, it is so with conservatives. There are other rising stars. Rand paul, with a certain strain of libertarian views come a remains popular with social conservatives. Another person to watch is Chris Christie, the embattled new jersey governor, who is coming ac, which hek at cp was not invited to last year. Ropes in hisn the own state, could he get conservatives to rally . If he can, it could help him for a possible 2016 run. Host you travel to new jersey recently. Trenton have been to too often. Host what is the sense now . Guest they are not moving forward on fresh ground. You have a lot of chris theyties former aides, are under not only state investigation, but investigation from the u. S. Attorney. Federal investigation is ongoing. The problem for Chris Christie is he might not be in the crosshairs right now, but as the cloud continues to loom, that is a political problem for him. , any before we leave cpac comments or thoughts on what they will say about the ukraine . What are the speakers talking about the situation . Guest i tweet guest i tweeted over the weekend that they are probably rewriting their speeches. I spoke with senator paul and he was talking about the need to be careful on how the u. S. Proceeds with the ukraine. He does not stand exactly with the president , but he is more of a dove when it comes to Foreign Policy. You will see conservatives on the more hawkish side take on the president , take on the president s management of the situation, and Foreign Policy will not only animate the national debate, but the Republican Party ahead of 2014 and 2016. Host michelle is waiting to talk to robert costa of the Washington Post. Michelle, good morning. Caller good morning. How are you doing . Host good, go ahead. Caller the reason why republicans are so behind ted cruz and rand paul is because they do what they say they are going to do. They do not give you a line of crap and then go to congress and not do it. Like obama has been with all of his malarkey. Host what you think about Speaker John Boehner . Like john boehner. He took a break last year, but he did what was right with the shutdown because obamacare is hurting a lot of people whether harry reid wants to admit it or not. Host what is your question . Caller we were talking about republicans being divided, and i have an office that allows me to watch cspan all day long, so i get to watch the house and the senate at the same time, and there are a lot of laws that passed in the house that never see the senate floor. If anybody would go look at harry reids desk, i am sure it is pretty full of laws that the publicans have stood united and pass that harry reid will not take a look at. My question is why is it republicans are getting such a bad rap about feeding the wealthy when obama is the one who has thought this feeding gs feeding thehu stock market . Guest republican tell most habitually struggled with the rapid they are the party of wealth and wall street. Ryan grew up as an understudy to jack kemp, and you have seen him go out to urban centers, traveling with bob woodson, a Longtime Community organizer, trying to show that not only is a Republican Party recommending cuts, but they are welling to engage with low income voters. That is where they are trying to show compassion for low income people, people struggling with the economy. At the same time, they are policies, but there is not a specific recommendation. We do see with dave camps recent proposal on tax reform, republicans are looking to cut corporate rates, which is often a priority for republicans. Use a republicans trying to cut rates for low income people across the board. Host we are talking about the president s 2015 budget plan. Here is the budget actually being delivered to capitol hill today. That happens on budget day, the efficient delivering of the to lawmakersudget on capitol hill for radio. Were still taking your questions review. Were still taking your questions and calls. Gladys is in chicago, illinois on our line for democrats. Caller good morning. How are you doing . Host good. Caller i am so tired of people the Republican Party that is doing good. They are doing nothing good. Anything that president obama and i wish they would stop calling him obama. It is president obama. Do, it is vice versa from what the lady said. They will not even bring a floor bill to the floor. The bring crappy bills to senate and say here, this is a we are giving you, deal with it. Harry is not going to do that. Back, leave it on his desk. It is not going to happen. This is the most in i have evere house seen. The gridlock that you are talking about on capitol hill, how do you think that plays out in november on election day . The republicans will lose the house. This stuff here about poor no , republicans have we are in a situation where people do not have jobs. The lady was talking about a woman and children. Out therefamilies that had jobs, they are not working, then they got food stamps, and twice this year they cut food stamps down that republicans are not offering anything to people that are of low income, middle income. The rich is getting richer, and the poor is getting poorer. A call from illinois talking about the job situation. We will see another jobs report coming out at the end of this week. How important do those monthly job reports become for the white house, and for both parties heading into 2014 . Guest they are important every week, but important the week before the election for setting the tone. I think gladys brings up a point that the president is trying to address in the budget. Because people are still struggling, he is looking to expand the social safety net, programs that republicans want to cut. The republican counter to that argument on the president is they want to see more done when the state, more block granting to the states on medicaid and other issues. She is right in the sense that the senate right now has a pile of republican bills that they feel will have no chance of passing the democratic senate, and the house is not taking up any kind of democratic bills on unemployment or social spending. Both parties are talking past each other on the way to november. This is the emerging debate right now on poverty. The biggest take away i have as a reporter is that as much as there is a major difference between where the parties stand, they are both talking about social spending, poverty, and this is not a budget debate about entitlement reform like it was with paul ryan in the past. It is really both parties zeroing in on a specific issue, empowerment of the poor, supporting the poor, welfare, perhaps reforming welfare and expanding it that is the debate. Both parties are there. Host joy would like us to clarify what is happening on capitol hill. She says is in the president budget really a wish list and it is the congress that has to originate all bills on spending. Guest it is usually a wish any real deal is brokered by the house and the senate, but the president wants to establish where he wants to go, and it is usually the president s prerogative to do just that. Host from twitter, government approval rating. Uest dismal host some of the issues brought up our the iraqi and afghanistan war, the patriot, the bailout, nsa spying and the member still in office. Guest you have seen a real republicans that are traditionally hawkish on nsa and related issues, they are breaking apart. There is internal discussion on how to proceed on those issues. I think ukraine has put Foreign Policy back on the map. We thought this would be a debate about poverty or social spending, but now ukraine, the way this unfolds, it could have a major impact on how the election unfolds. Host we will talk more about the ukraine with our next guest, a former ambassador to the country. We have a few more minutes with robert costa of the Washington Post. Michael is in alabama on our line for independents. Are you with us . Caller yes, sir. How are you doing . Host good. You are on with robert costa. Caller i have a couple of questions about this budget. I am not a republican, not a democrat. I am for who has the best policies. You talk about cutting spending,hat about all of the pork sending money overseas to feed these people . My uncle jerry made a comment sadid it is said we we live in the richest nation in the world, and we cannot even feed all of our people. You have harry reid calling American People liars. I hate to be him in nevada when i go up for reelection. Lets stop spending money overseas and bring it home for a change. Host when you bring up overseas spending, is there other pork spending . Caller i saw a thing where they shrimp spent [indiscernible] a treadmill. Look at theyou amount of spending being done with programs across the country from federal dollars, republicans will try to seize on that with the ryan budget, looking for cuts and reforms, and this is the debate. The president looks at the federal budget and has perhaps it should do more to help people across the country. Republicans are looking to bring it back a bit, reform the tax code, and do more with less inside of the federal government. I think there is less attention to appropriations and pork because the earmark process has changed. It is not such a dominant part of the debate as it has been in the past. Those programs are still there, and callers like you will spot them when you go to town Hall Meetings with your representatives. Vita into in hayward, california. Thank you for waking up with us. Caller my question is to the reporter, you continuously bring up the fact that republicans are offering reform and better programs. Guest i never said better. I follow the Republican Party as a beat. I have interviewed brian and Chris Van Hollen over the weekend. Ask a question. Ryans budget is cutting more out of the safety net for americans that are out of work and we have veterans that are on food stamps. I. Continue to hold them up guest i would not i would does doth you that ryan a lot. Host we brought on robert costa, a reporter with the Washington Post. Viewers out these he covers these issues. Donna. Our line for democrats. Caller good morning. I am calling in with regards to unemployment. I have worked with two companies that are laid me off. I am hardworking, i work every day if possible. I want to know where is their stand on employment extended unemployment . Host that is a topic we have covered a little bit this morning, but if you want to review. Guest sure. We have seen longterm unemployment is an issue that needs to be addressed in capitol hill. It has not been addressed yet by the congress. Republicans are reluctant to strike a deal on this issue because they would like to see some kind of concession, some kind of give either in terms of spending cuts or reforms, and unless they get that they are not likely to pass longterm extensions of insurance for those on the program. I think this will continue for at least the coming months. It is not seem to be any movement for a coming deal. Ons is really about those longterm unemployment, and that is where the divide is, not on unemployment generally speaking, just a longterm. T one issue for an update i was wondering if you could give us an update on, immigration, what is the status of immigration reform, and how is it playing into the 2014 elections . Guest i sat down the republican congressman from florida, and he is hopeful, but i am not sure i see the will among House Republicans to move forward with any kind of comprehensive bill or a bill that would include legalization. Instead, we are likely to see is movement on republican versions of the dream act, piecemeal legislation that i think immigration debate is moving a lot like the budget both parties picking up the ground, making their positions known, but because we are so close to november, in a sense, politically, bipartisan compromise is unlikely. Last thingwas the the speaker said on the immigration debate and the possibility of moving something this here . Through whatoehner seemed like a big bucket of cold water on the opus of something happening this year. He said there is distrust about how the president would enact Border Security and border laws. John boehner has hired someone to help him on the issue. He would like to pursue immigration reform, but within the house gop, the political climate, with the move forward anything big . Probably not. He knows the Republican Party needs to win over latino voters in a serious way. Can they get back to a stable territory with voters who are skeptical questioning to do that, it probably takes legislation skeptical . Probably takes legislation in the house and senate. Host robert costa is a reporter with the Washington Post, and you can check out his front page story and also check it out post. Com. Ashington guest thank you. The story was written as well by zach, great to work with him. Host next, we will talk about the ukraine with the brookings institutions steven pifer who served as ambassador from 1998 until 2000, but first here is a news update. Lewreasury secretary jack said the u. S. Is working to provide 1 billion in loan guarantees to the ukraine, saying the administration is working with congress and the government. He also noted the package will work in parallel with an International Assistance package of which the International Monetary at the center. He went on to say the package will focus on meeting the ukraines four most pressing needs which include Economic Reforms, conducting elections, combating corruption, and in his words, when standing politically motivated trade action by russia. Reuters reporting on the ukraine saysthe that russia sees no need to use military force in the crimea region, adding that military use resort, andt sanctions considered against moscow by the west would be counterproductive. Secretary of state john kerry has arrived in ukraine to reinforce washingtons support for the new government in kiev, deadline ford a Vladimir Putin to pull back troops. More on ukraine coming up next on washington journal. Those are some of the latest headlines on cspan radio. Cspan we bring Public Affairs events from washington directly to you, putting you in the room at congressional hearings, White House Events, briefings and conferences, and often complete gaveltogavel coverage of the u. S. House, all as a service of private industry. We were created 30 years ago and funded by your local cable or satellite provider. Facebook,like us on and follow us on twitter. Continues. Journal host as the world continues to watch the unfolding situation in the ukraine, we discussed this ambassador tos. Ukraine, steven pifer, who serves for the brookings institution. Secretary of state john kerry is in the ukraine this morning. What do you expect from secretary kerry today . Purpose ofprimary his visit is to demonstrate support for a Ukrainian Government that has been in power for about 10 days and it is facing a fragile situation. Is of the interesting things if he brings tangible deliverables. There was talk about credits that might help the ukraine bridge to the point when the International Monetary fund in program would kick in. Host this is the aid package. Is this something the president can do separately . Guest there might be some flexibility on some fronts in the budget, but on larger fronts he will need help from congress. Host theres a lot of talk about how russia is reacting to these moves by the United States, by john kerry being over there, economic moves is russia worried about the west right now . Guest i think the russians are not happy about the reaction. On sunday, the Seven Members of , except for russia, announced they were postponing the meeting that was supposed to happen in june, and i think russia is trying to find a series of diplomatic measures might clear what they have done, the military occupation of crimea, to make clear this is something they will push back against. Host what you think the pressure points are what would hurt russia . Guest we are new situation where everybody agrees nobodys going to go to war over crimea, but can we identify moves to isolate Vladimir Putin and moscow question mark they netted state moscow . The United States will not inclusion, ands there is a question about sanctions because russia has a lot of money and Financial Assets in the u. S. Host you say we are not talking about going to war over crimea, but you were part of a fourth group of former ambassadors who wrote a piece in washington ukraine will fight. Guest Ukrainian Forces are on that peninsula and so far have shown remarkable restraint. The have not challenged russians. You had some early standouts. Host we heard reports of fire into the air, warning shots. That, butittle bit of so far the ukrainians had tried to keep things cool. Andpiece that my colleagues i wrote is if theres going to be a broader intervention in the thatrn ukraine, in circumstance we calculate that some elements of the Ukrainian Military will find. We are talking with steven pifer, former u. S. Ambassador to 2000. Kraine from 1998to phone lines are open. As folks are calling in, can you give us a History Lesson . We have talked about crimea, and the focus has been about russian speakers in crimea, and those that have ties to russia. How did crimea become russian speaking . Was part of the soviet republic and when the soviet union collapsed, there was agreement from the republics that emerge that they would accept the borders as was, and if he started redrawing one border, where would you stop, so russia repeatedly recognized crimea as part of the ukraine and recognized and respected ukraines territorial integrity. In crimea, russians are 60 of the population. That is the only part of ukraine were ethnic russians are the majority. There are connections back to russia, but there was nothing to suggest that given what happened in kiev that there was any threat to those connections. Host that is what the russian government has played up in their concerns and why they sent troops there. Playedthe russians have up a lot, but there has been no evidence that there is a threat. Sea feet asblack bases in crimea and has had them in since 1991 and there was no threat in the last 10 days. Ont the military assets those bases how strong were they before that happened, and they have been reinforcements, correct . Guest this is the black see feet. Fleet. He black sea what you have seen is the russians are bringing in what looks like thousands of Additional Forces from russia proper and they have basically taken over the peninsula. The Guardian Newspaper has a graphic on assets in the ukraine and the strength of the military in the ukraine. Thatimea itself, it notes the ukraine has about 14,000. Roops in the ukraine overall, about 100 started thousand 130,000 troops. Some of the latest from the guardian. We will keep you updated on the news as it comes up. The Associated Press reporting a few minutes ago that secretary of state john kerry, lives in the ukraine, is showing u. S. Support for the fledgling Ukrainian Government, and the Obama Administration is announcing a 1 billion Energy Subsidy package. Moscow amid worries that was ready to stretch its military rich further into the mainland. Your reaction . Guest is a good sign the tangible support. It is important to remember that the United States along with russia and great written in 1994 in Great Britain in 1994 made certain assurances to the ukraine, and russia is now in violation. They need to respond to support ukraine and look for ways to in allies russia until they cease military action. Host president Vladimir Putin back, but saides that russia reserves the right to protect russians in the country and he accused the u. S. Of encouraging an unconstitutional he hopes russia will not need to use force in predominantly russianspeaking eastern ukraine. Guest there is a certain irony there. First of all, president vladimir fled. Ch when the agreement was signed, the russian representative refused to witness it. Here is a certain irony it has not been carried out because Viktor Yanukovych fled to russia. Host lets start with mario in connecticut on the line for democrats. Good morning. Caller good morning. How are you doing . Host good. Caller good. I feel that john mccain, and that South Carolina senator, ukraine, went to before the olympics, and were giving speeches to a Million People and whatnot, they started to form the division in the ukraine, and now the u. S. Steps in and tries to be the savior. To be a out selfserving fantasy for the republicans and democrats to work on a bipartisan issue such as overtaking the country. It is not such a big stretch to have weapons of mass destruction in iraq now, is that not the case . Guest one side of the crisis was back in november the ukraine was due to sign an agreement with the European Union that wouldve included a free trade arrangement, and to everyones surprise, Viktor Yanukovychs government announced they would not sign the agreement, in three days later 100,000 ukrainians turned out in protest. About six days after that, the ukrainian rightly went in and attacked the demonstrators at about 4 30 in the morning, and that really provoked a lot of backlash in the public because the next day, as many as one half of a million came out. This was not organized by the United States or the west. It was demonstrated by mistakes mr. Viktor yanukovych made, and it culminated several weeks ago with their police using automatic weapons and sniper kill about 60 demonstrators. That is what led to this overthrow or this move against the government. It was not inspired from the outside. Viktorid you ever meet yanukovych . When i was investor, he was actually a governor. Host would you think of him personally . Host is a fairly stubborn percent. One of the thousands one of the things i thought would be difficult was in order to get to out of theard, away crisis would have to take account of opposition demands, and he wouldve to make political compromises, and i was not sure he would be capable of making those compromises. Who have you met the man has replaced him question mark guest replaced him . Guest briefly. I know fairly well the acting Prime Minister. Interesting, what they are both said is that their government is going to be very shortlived. He said the government is a, cozzi government because of the sorts of decision , cozzi government, the decisions they make are going to be so painful that they will be uncomfortable and out of office very soon. Pontiac, illinois. On line for republicans. Ron, you are on with steven pifer. Caller ignoring political realities between republicans and democrats, it seems to me the way you get the russians attention over the situation is to do a 180 on our energy policy. Russia gets 52 of that of it is based on energy. We would decrease in europes dependence on russian energy, and we will provide jobs and tax revenues in this country, which would improve our situation as far as the deficit. I would like to hear your comments. Guest let me make it illegal ments on your response four republicans and democrats, when you look at the american sincech to the ukraine 1981, it has been bipartisan. If you look at the policy of president clinton, president bush, president obama, the same basic line is evident in all of those administrations. On the point about energy, you make a good point. In fact, that is already happening. Ther 15 years ago, when United States thought it would have to import huge amounts of natural gas, the plan was to import lng coming out of the persian gulf. With the discovery of Natural Resources in the United States, they have nowhere to go, and instead theyre going to europe, and they have displaced some. This is a tricky question for the russians because in 2006 and 2009, they had gas cutoffs to europe, and then made the europeans nervous about reliable suppliers. If this crisis in the ukraine were to do that a third time, they could see longtime customers in europe bringing in lng from the golf because of concerns. It might not bode well for their interests. Host steven pifer currently serves of the brookings institution. What do you do there . I, i am on the center for esa tenure. Serve . Ow long did you guest 27 years, serving in moscow, london, kiev. Host here to take your questions and comments. Over twitter, boring file clerk says what will we go to war over what is the red line . Guest nobody is drawing a red line in terms of military action. You have seen republican commentators senator marco rubio said military force is not a serious option, the question is can you put together a package of political, economic and diplomatic sanctions on russia . It will be important to the United States and europe works together because if there is a united view, the sanctions will have greater impact, and can you begin to raise the pain level and isolation level if vladimir concludes you need to look at a united level . Offramp peoplehe have been talking about . Guest this is the offramp. I think will be hard to find the off ramp for mr. Vladimir putin but it is important that we try. Host from twitter why is the the supporting the coup in ukraine, but did not support the uprising in iran. Do we hate russia more than a ran . Iran . Guest that has always been a long u. S. Engagement with ukraine, and going back to the 1994 security assurances, the 1996 establishment of a strategic relationship there has been a significant relationship between washington of thev to mike and one reasons why the u. S. Takes an , and one of the reasons the u. S. Has taken an while he wouldt like to put in stable democratic institutions, informed policy terms, ukraine has been a good friend. Nuclear the third arsenal, and at our quest got rid of that. 2004, ukraine and the fourthlargest contingent of troops in the Coalition Force in iraq. Ukraine has been very responsive to american requests. That is one of the reasons why the United States is more responsive to the ukraine in its current crisis. Talk about the role of german chancellor Angela Merkel here. Here is a president of her on the front page of the New York Times business day section. It is her and Vladimir Putin in 2012. What has her role been . Guest the germans have probably had the strongest relations with among with the countries europe. They can speak without interpreters. I think what chancellor Angela Merkel is trying to do is to explore if there is a way to get a dialogue going. There has been a talk of establishment of a Contact Group that would begin to get a dialogue going that might find a political way out of this situation. Host what about the role of nato . Here is a lead editorial yesterday in the wall street journal, talking about natos importance in the crisis, saying that nato has a distinctive promisedwith kiev and the ukraine that they would join. That i would disagree on one point. Having the natorussia channel is a way for nato to press russia, but i do think it makes sense for nato to terminate any cooperative military activities with russia right now because it would not be right to go forward activities when Russian Forces are occupying another part of a country with which nato has a strong partnership. Be of the questions it will looking at is Vladimir Putin has changed the rules. The assumption was in the last 20 years you would not see this kind of military action, but even as you saw in his press Conference Today in st. Petersburg, Vladimir Putin said this is because we will protect the russians basically wherever they are. Nato has two member states, estonia and latvia, each that have significant russian populations, and i sense the Baltic States are a little more nervous. That is where nato should be working sure nato members where we have a security commitment, assure them that nato will be there. Host is there any thought Vladimir Putin is turning to some of these Baltic States . Guest with a sense of remarkably bad timing, apparently began a military border near poland and lithuania, which was bad timing on their part. It is not the time to do things that ratchet up tensions. It is a time to look for ways to deescalate the crisis. Host lets go to our line for independents in baltimore, maryland. Caller good morning. It is a pleasure to speak with you. I would like to make a couple of comments. First, i am 86 years old, and i am a world war ii veteran. The rhetoric now, and Vladimir Putins actions, you could read in hitler when he moved to protect german speaking people. John kerry sounds just like chamberlain peace in our time but were going to raise a lot of rhetoric. I was in russia in 2010 for a conference, and at that time they were talking about taking over the crimea because they needed it as a navy and see which they both of are active in. I was wondering what your comments are on this i always tried to be very cautious about using analogies to nazis and hitler, but i think it really has been fairly astounding, the Propaganda Machine russians have used about the ukraine. I saw a piece on sunday where the russiant time Migration Service claimed 675,000 ukrainians had fled from ukraine into russia seeking protection. Population of the that the russians claim have left since january 1. Host they disputed that claim j . Guest there was a picture of the border post and turned out ukrainian post. Russian look at the posts, it was like one car there. No mass exodus. They are saying things like that and make you wonder how long has this been going on to the propaganda side, and for what think secretary kerry and president obama are beginning to lay out a series of steps, and consistent with we will not use military force but trying to inflict as much force as they can on russia like things like throwing the russians out or spending preparations for the geight summit in sochi. This is someone who craves International Legitimacy and when groups push away, that will hurt. Does this change his mind on crimea . I am not sure. I think they do want basis and crimea. Issue. S never an the ukrainians and russians back in 1997 signed an agreement that allowed russians to have naval installations in the facilities. 2010 it was a green good until 2042. There has never been a suggestion in the past 10 days that they would move or try to pick the russians. They did not have to military occupy crimea in order to have access. Host we played earlier in the show comments from president obama yesterday. Here are comments from the russian adoration. Speaking yesterday on the situation in the ukraine. As a legitimate representative i say the events in my place in kiev have resulted in the fact that ukraine is on the brink of a civil war. In the country there is chaos and anarchy. The lives of security and people , particularly in crimea, rb in threatened. Particularly in threatened. People are persecuted for language and political reasons. In this regard, i would call on the president of russia, asking him to use of armed forces of the Russian Federation to order,sh peace, law and stability and defending the people of ukraine. Open access, terror and violence are you seeing that . Guest no. He was reading from a letter from the russian president. President from yanukovych. There is a way to clarify this. Yesterday assistant secretary of state nuven was there. One of the discussions was lets deploy monitors from neutral states into the ukraine so there can be objective reporting. There have been objections by officials but there are also worth the threats within ukraine , and i see no evidence of that. There have been demonstrations where you have proukraine demonstrations and clashes, but the idea there is some sort of organized Ukrainian Government campaign simply does not stand up to what we see on the ground. Host also, a bit from the u. S. Ambassador laying out a solution that she puts forward on russians russias intervention in the ukraine and steps moving forward. The solution to the crisis is not difficult to envision. There is a way out through direct and immediate dialogue through russia, the immediate pullback of russias military forces, the restoration of the integrity and urgent deployment of observers and human rights monitors, not through more threats and distortions. C will beginose deploying monitors to the ukraine. Their presence is urgently necessary in crimea and key cities in eastern ukraine. The United States calls upon russia to ensure access is not impeded. Their leadership in moscow may well be unhappy about former president yanukovychs decision to flee ukraine and move in with them. Russia maybe this pleased with the new government which was approved by an overwhelming majority, including members of his own party. Russia has every right to wish the event and ukraine had turned out differently, but it does not have the right to express unhappiness by using military force or by trying to convince the world immunity that up is down and black is white. Host your thoughts on her comments yesterday. It is a fairly strong statement. Unfortunately, it appears the russian government has not been repaired to engage with the Ukrainian Government. They assert that the president is still the president of ukraine. There has been a little bit of the schizophrenia and russian approach. They say he is still president of ukraine, but not had a chance to meet with the president , which is rather odd. Seems like he is keeping him somewhat at arms length. Hopefully they can have dialogue with the authorities that are now in kiev and tried to find some way to basically the escalate the crisis before it gets out of hand. Going to new york on the line for democrats. Good morning. Caller the morning. I am hoping republican start backing president obama strategy and trusting him it. Bush backed bush and cheney who took us to disastrous wars. They should hide their heads and keep their stupid mouths shut. York calling from new concerned about the political discourse. Certainlyre are opportunities to take shot of the administration him and i think we have seen several spokesmen do this on it comes down to what indian United States do they hope to accomplish . You will see bipartisan support for this. Going back, republicans and democrats have not been divided in terms of what they should do. And 2014 situation now or one of the problems of the Obama Administration is how do you find effective tools of leverage . In some ways, it is not unlike what the George Bush Administration was going through in 2008. Host bobby h writes that is bobby h from columbia, maryland over email. Bill in florida. On the line for republicans. Good morning. A couple of statements and the question. Where is all this billions of dollars for ukraine economical use . They are burdening their city down and russia is going in there trying to slow them down. Sending lots of moneys over there. Host is the question how would they use the money . Caller yes, and the other part is that i have seen the rail is thes here in America Market business has been sending lots of money down to brazil to invest. Over 500 hotels that they are building for the olympics in the future. I am talking billions or hundreds of billions of dollars that are being invested on a rail system down that way towards miami and dade city. Host sticking to the ukraine and letting the ambassador jump in. Thet let me start with ukraine. They find themselves in a very difficult financial situation. Billion to meet International Obligations without having to default, the reason the ukraine is in this is because of the corruption and economic mismanagement. Particularly bad during the last four years during the 10 years as president. After mr. Iacobucci left ukraine mr. Yanukovych left ukraine, the guards opened up his house and you saw this incredible combination of sheer opulence bad taste. Huge amounts of money have been stolen and the economy has not been well managed. Nobody in the west is talking about providing these credits to the ukraine for nothing. What they would have to do is undertake very serious Economic Reforms with the idea that in a couple of years they could put the economic house in order so it does not need national assistance. It is potentially a very what the economy but needs to manage the economy right. The idea is to get them to commit to serious reforms in return for which the International Community will provide credits that will be paid back in several years time. He does not expect to be around very long, because the source of policy decisions he will have to make will be very difficult but necessary. Host the caller brought up the upcoming olympics but turning to the sochi olympics, how much of what was happening in ukraine and using the president knew about or was looking at during the events in sochi . Guest certainly president puntin was keeping an eye on it and happy the events in sochi were distracting from it. Vladimir putin put his time and energy into this. He saw this as a social showcase for russia and him personally. I think he was therefore unhappy that there was a distraction going on just a few hundred miles away in the ukraine. A certain tenure beyond good behavior. There was a paper a couple of months ago saying maybe we should think about what happens after sochi. One of the things we have worried about after is a more aggressive russian policy. Pretty much most analysts think the russians will doing some things to destabilize. They are not happy with what is happening in kiev. Most would expect economic sanctions. Raise the price of gas, block trade. What caught us by surprise is the military aggression and crimea. Host wild and wonderful rights guest there are several agreements relevant. These require russia to respect the sovereignty and integrity of ukraine. One would be that russia is a member of the organization for security and cooperation in europe and a signatory to the final act, which basically says territoryespect the of your neighbors. In the 1994 security assurances, russia, along with United States extended certain surety agreements. Bilateralhere was a agreement that also included a russian recognition of the need to respect ukraines territory. This violates a whole host of commitment that the russians have over taken over the past 20 years. Host alfred on the line for republicans. Good morning. Good morning. Correct me if i am wrong, but the spoiling of the russian government started after the Second World War when they were given temporary control, and eventually kept it, and no one even corrected them on it, because they have no legal right there. The lithuanians do not want them extort to them because they have often been threatened with stalingrad or they will take the whole country. They are fighting. They do not know what to do or say. Action by i think the league of nations back then spoil them. They think they can take ortever they want by force by illegitimate means and survive it. Looking at the aftermath of world war ii, a lot of borders were redrawn. Some countries gained, some lost. I do not think at this point you can go back and revisit that. When the soviet union collapsed in 1991, principal fundamental to the american approach, and most agreed with this, that and three12 republics Baltic States emerged, you should recognize them and accept them in the context of the borders of the time. If you start redrawing one border, where do you stop . That would be a recipe for geographic disaster. That has largely been respected, although there have been cases where the russians have not expect it the integrity and now seeing a similar case and crimea. Host frank on the line for republicans in iowa. In reference to the ukrainian incident, in our country we have our own problems. If we continue in trying to impose what we are trying to get settled in the world, we are going to have major problems in this country. We talked about a public government that has been put into the ukraine. Governmenta public in our own country, and we are going to end up seeing the same thing, the same type of government takeover in our own country. It is unfortunate, but i see it as no solution anymore. States is united going to have to look at how much engages in the world and increasingly recognize there may be some that are driven by our own requirements at home and budget necessities. I think there is an important American Interest in the ukraine. I completely disagree with the idea that the government in kiev is a public government. I think the United States feels it couldve been formed differently. For example, it would have been nice to see more embers of the government to make it more inclusive. In fact, when they put the cabinet together, positions were offered to the party of regions mentally represent the eastern part but they declined to come into the eastern part. He mightomething that have liked to turnout and a different way. I think there is the u. S. Obligation and goes back to the 1994 budapest number random. Collapsed,viet Union Strategic bombers and missiles. Three years later, ukraine agreed to give up the weapons for elimination. Then to destroy the missiles, bombers and missiles silos silos. Part because of the document on security assurances. I think that imposes an obligation not to respond military but in other ways in a very difficult time. Your thoughts on matthew from paris, france. His thoughts on what is happening. Clearly yesterdays move force down the moment the government using the political issue to short the market and today a Political Announcement of tension easing to go along on the markets. Any evidence of this jacob guest . Guest i think this was a very predictable happening. Looking like too many people that this could be some kind of a conflict. The markets reacted, at least mainally the mains stock index dropped 10 . This is what happens as the russian economy has increasingly integrated the global economy, these events have an impact. In moscow one thing they should does calculate is what this do to russias reputation . Will this make International Investors more hesitant . This could have a host of ramifications that would not be good for the russian economy. On the line for democrats. Taking myank you for call. I appreciate the conversation. I had a comment about the. Ituation as i see it i have been acquainted with. Ussians quite personally i think that we in the media and the west, i think we are misunderstanding this to a certain extent by thinking this playing powertin politics. I think the russian people, at least a very large majority of them are behind what is going on right now in the crimea. I think the primary reason they is a deeply distrust a lot of the far right elements that are involved and deeply supportive of the events that happened in kiev a couple of weeks ago. I know that we think of this as a democratic revolution, but fundamentally it is not a democratic revolution and more or less a popular coup and supported by people that if we really explore who they are and what they represent, are quite dangerous, especially the russians believe strongly they are dangerous. Host ambassador, jump in. Pretty nuanceda issue and a pretty good question. I always go back when i start to think about how russians look at ukraine. I go back to a comment about 20 years ago where he said up here, annow that ukraine is independent country. He says here in my heart it will take a little bit longer to accept that. You have seen, i think, mixed views about what is going on in the ukraine. The caller is correct but there have been far right elements. There were groups there that i think were worrisome to outsiders, including the american government, but i am not sure they constitute the majority. Looks like a relatively small minority of the demonstrators. From people that i talked to that were on the square with the demonstrations were focused, they said they could find all manners of ukrainians. Middleclass, it older people. Yes, there were far right elements but far from the majority. In some respects, one reason they expressed concerns is because in the russian media, what they have played up is it is a far right neonazi takeover. There has been a fairly organized effort you can only call propaganda in russia to depict what is going on in the ukraine very different from what is going on. I think that is the responsibility of the russian government. Ukraineying to portray in a different way than reality in a way that would cause them to be concerned. 70 on the russian population uncomfortable with the idea of the military action going on right now, which i think is a hopeful sign. Host stephen keifer, former ambassador. Currently works of the brookings institution. Follow him on twitter. Thank you so much for joining us today. About todaystalk primaries in texas. Then we will open up the phones to you to discuss the issues we have talked about so far. First, a news update from cspan radio. Economic news this hour. Real estate data provider for logic says u. S. Prices rose in january after three months of declines. Prices rose zero. 9 in january after dipping 0. 1 in december. Home prices have risen 12 . The biggest yearoveryear gain in more than eight years. The Obama Administration says the government shut down last fall resulted in nearly 8 million fewer visitors to National Parks. Cost thing the parks and surrounding communities an estimated 400 14 million and lost visitor spending. Sally jewell says the shutdown that striking reminder National Parks are a powerful economic engine for local economies across the country. On this day, when the president releases his budget request, a new poll finds antiincumbent sentiment is largely economic in 72 of Americans Still rate the economy negatively. 22 of americans are declined to reelect their governor in congress. While 56 say the economy has begun to improve, that view has lost steam. Two thirds say this is a weak one. Those are some of the latest headlines on cspan radio. Cspan, we bring Public Affairs events from washington directly to you putting you in the room at congressional hearings, White House Events and briefings and conferences and offering complete gavel to gavel coverage of the u. S. House. We are cspan, created by the cable tv industry 30 five years ago and funded by your local cable or satellite provider. Watch us in hd, like us on facebook and follow us on twitter. Before we open up our phones this morning, we want to talk about primary day in texas. To do that, we are joined by a senior Political Writer with dallas morning news. Thank you for joining us today. I have the front page in front of me. The headline, gop continues pushing to write. Headlineshe main going into primary day in texas caps on guest . Guest the decision is pretty much over. Willbbott and wendy davis win easily the nominations but there are ballot races that are terrifically competitive. The lieutenant governors race has four candidates, including the incumbent lieutenant governor. They have all moved as far to the right as they can in a strong appeal to texas primary voters, who are quite conservative. If you are here in austin or fullon, your television is of Television Ads in which virtually every republican candidate to agriculture commissioner and Railroad Commissioner are featuring basically three things, and one is a bible, one is a gun and an assurance they do not like barack obama. Ont is really the message the republican side. The other headline is at the national level. That is john cornyn, incumbent u. S. Senator is being challenged by a number of republicans, including steve stockman, who ad sort had hoped to be strong Tea Party Challenger and part of the National Effort in many states, missouri and kansas and elsewhere, to challenge candidates. Publican seem tolenge does not have gone very well. He has been hurt by stories about his own finances. Questions about whether he is really serious or not in the expected ton cornyn win nomination. Is he expected to win without the possibility of a runoff . Guest i think so. All he needs is 51 . The real question is not necessarily there will not be a runoff, there probably will not be a runoff him about what is stockman and others get 3540 of the vote . What does that really say about an incumbent and strongly conservative Senate Candidate senator . One of the leaders on capitol hill. Guest exactly. We will see. My guess is he wins best buy by 60 plus percent of the vote. Host what is happening in his own district . There is a replace send awo replace him and new member to congress. Guest there is a whole group of people, and i think it will be very difficult for anyone to differentiate one from another. None of them is a clear standout known widely from members in the district. Most certainly will go to a runoff. [indiscernible] hall. Ralph said this is his last race. It may well be his toughest race, correct . Guest absolutely. He basically will not make Campaign Appearances. He will send a surrogate war often than not. This could really be the end for ralph hall. He was a democrat once upon a time. Really reflected what has been happening in texas over the past decade, and the move to the Republican Party where they have one. Candidates like rick perry have become republicans. This could be it for ralph hall. One other congressional race worth looking at and that is pete sessions. Very strongly conservative. He is being challenged strongly by a tea party advocate who is expect did by many in the tea party. I think the indication is they will win this. , well respected Tea Party Leader in the dallas area, giving him a run for his money. Host this is another one of those Tea Party Versus established candidate session. Guest absolutely. You have to say cornman and sessions and others being called liberals, would probably not be liberals and other states. In this case they are invoking word. Host d l what has the primary Campaign Said about her ability to run statewide and run in november . Guest not very much. She needed to have a lot of things going for her and she needed to look to her opponent to make a few mistakes. Davis has made more mistakes. Her campaign fashioned a compelling personal narrative about the divorced mother. Working her way all the way to harvard. Some questions have been raised about the story, not that the fundamentals are not true, they are. Ory of the details inflated omitted. Questions have been raised about whether she is ready for the job. So they have get things right. There was a call by democrats money people and others privately. They will right the ship to bring folks and from washington for the and more National Experience if she will compete for the nomination. The firstbe democratic governor of texas if she were elected since and richards in 1990. It has been that long. Running iner bush texas. , george bush signed. Running for land commissioner. On office that deals with public lands, raises money or oversees funding from oil and other gas interest to fund schools and has a veterans component. Those fit perfectly for him. He is bright, sharp and articulate and not seriously challenged in the primary and dairy like louis likely will win in november. His campaign is laying a keepaway game a sickly trying to limit access to the media, brief Campaign Appearances to supportive groups where he does well. Not only a very attractive candidate but a very smart guy and has shown political astuteness. He has to stay away from any proof controversy or question. I guess is it will be hard to catch up with him a lot. Before we let you go to enjoy primary day, how is the weather in texas . Guest the early vote indicates the republican vote is better. That is a function of so many republicans. The democrat vote is down. It is cold. As i look out my window from austin, texas, there is a little bit of snow on the grass. A little bit icy and is in the 40s across much of texas. That will not help turnout. The republicans and wendy davis people, if they want to vote, they will show up and vote. Host appreciate you joining us this morning. Primary day down there in texas. Offs primary today kicking primary season. Primaryon the state date, illinois coming up on march 18 followed by indiana on may 5 may 6. Nebraskaolina, ohio and West Virginia all getting in on the primary action. Kicks off primary day. In the last 25 minutes, we want to open up the phones to viewers. We can talk about any of the budget issues, ukraine, priority spending. We would love to hear your thoughts. Phone lines are open. Democrats can call 202 7370001 republicans 202 7370002 independents 202 6280205 if you are outside of the u. S. , 202 6280184. Story,ulate the primary here is an article from todays Washington Times talking about some of the most closely watched primary senate watches across the country. Gop senator send off gop party the headline. Leaving mississippi as the only state where a longtime Republican Office holder is seriously endangered by a primary that threats from the right. Goes on to talk about polling. Doing well for Lindsey Graham. Pat roberts as well. Mitch mcconnell in kentucky doing well. Then there is the mississippi tied at 40 with the state senator, chris smith daniel. According to the latest polls out there. General goal, a new post polling, republican seen as out of touch, but not of the midterm disadvantage. Nearly seven in 10 say the Republican Party is out of touch with the concern of most evil comes scoring well below president obama and democrats in empathy but the disparity has not translated to them disadvantage in up coming elections. Poll asked which Political Party you trust to do better on handling a variety of issues. Democrats winning on helping with the middle class, health care and immigration issues, energy policy. Much more of a tie when it comes to taxes and the economy. Republicans holding an advantage to comes to dealing with the deficit. When the polls were asked if the election were held today for the u. S. House of representatives, would you vote for democrats or republicans . Barely edging out by one percent. Using decisively to republicans to 50 in the new post. Here,get into the day opening up our phones to you. A snowy day here on capitol hill. We want to hear your thoughts on the subjects brought up so far. Starting with mike in chicago, illinois. Caller good morning. I was calling about the ukraine. Im a ukrainian myself. My mother is from ukraine. I have in there six times in russia three times. What amazes me is the ignorance of many of the people who call. They could not probably even locate ukraine on the map. Part of the problem is russians have the psyche that they believe the ukraine, belarus, and russia are like brotherfather countries. A lot of ukrainian see that point of view, but the problem is russia has to always act as the big rather and needs to control the other brothers big time all the time. They want to go their own direction now. The brother cannot get it in their heads that they are separate people. I was on the train between st. Petersburg in russia and talking in 1994sian businessman and the subject came up of the brotherhood of the slovic countries. I said consider it this way, in therothers grew up same household and now they want the same household. Cane are still brothers and have a relationship but they want to do things differently. A lot of americans inc. Ukraine and belarus, all parts of the soviet union. And it is just natural for russia to control. Host our last guest was a former u. S. Ambassador to ukraine. He penned a column over the past weekend. The headline, ukraine will fight. Forcesy if the russian attack him at the war would be terrible. Do you agree with that sentiment jacob guest . Caller i think they will be intimate think it is unfortunate it would come to that sentiment. Ukraine has had a relationship with nato for at least 10 years now. They have been doing exercises with nato and i do not understand why they cannot help the ukraine because they went into afghanistan and are now having nothing to do with nato. Was not in association with nato either. Host glenn waiting in tennessee on the line for independence. Caller thank you for taking my call. That last caller made a valid point, and the reason for the United States to not get because in the ukraine people of europe should take that up. Over here in the United States having enough problems with our republican brothers trying to nullify the vote. We need to start taking care of ourselves. Glenn from tennessee this morning. We will take your calls and comments throughout the rest of the program. Ukraine. Ow, the we also asked viewers in the first 45 minutes about what youre Budget Priorities would be on the day president obama delivers his 2015 budget plan to capitol hill. We will go not to louisville, kentucky. Chris on the line for republicans. Good morning. My opinion on the budget soi think they should cut it fromtaxes and take some other place and invest into Companies Like mcdonalds. It costs 1 million to get one of those. Take the money from the companies and put it back into the government and someday do away with taxes. Host chris in louisville, kentucky. Speaking of kentucky, from page story, rand paul looking to hedge bets in 2016 election. Opening the door to hedge his political best, rand paul asking the leader of the kentucky he can run fore the white house and reelection at the u. S. Senate to the u. S. Senate in 2016. The story notes if things go his way, he can run the gop president ial nomination and run in the fall of 2016 general election presidency and retained his u. S. Senate seat. Looking for clear partitions of state law there. We talk about the politics and election 2014 coming up. Irish eyes writes in, i would like to see a mandatory none of the above selection added to all of the ballots. Earnest waiting on the line for democrats. Caller good morning. Can i talk about the Affordable Care act . That first of all, 30 iconds 10 seconds to say think there are very good people in this country, black and right id which rich and poor and am not locked into everything the democrats do. Johnson had the perfect answer, i think, on this issue when he said if you can convince middleclass whites and poor whites but the worst black, worst in the best white, you can pick their pocket will and it will always vote against their best interest. Red with even considering it when you consider the states that are most needed of the things, in the south, still want. O fight the confederacy that is the problems you have. People just do not want to accept the fact that the black man is in the white house. Going through the same thing. E robinson had in baseball only he did it on steroids. Host you think it is a racial issue as much as disagreeing with politics . Caller thank you. Host i think we lost ernest, but going to joe from new jersey on the line for independence. The morning. I just want to make a comment regarding our congress, particularly republicans. How they can at a time particularly now when it has to do with so much turmoil in the world and are coming up short with the supporting of veterans. If they expect the army to volunteer and go through the mayhem they are expect to to go into and then come back and cannot even get the support of the republicans, who by the way, in my judgment have become very twofaced in that issue, because they constantly say we have the support of veterans. We have to take care of our people and do everything right for them. Came to antime, he vote the other day to extend the benefits for veterans and where were they . Host does it concern you the thee house budget plan for pentagon was previewed this past week and look into strength the u. S. Army to the lowest level since low world war ii . A smart move at this particular time. I really think that is another dumb move. We want to start thinking about trimming or saving money. Firstk we want to start with those that are supposed to represent us in congress and the senate. When they do not work, do not get paid. They have not been working in my judgment for the past five years. Joe calling from new jersey. About 10 minutes or so to talk about the issues we discussed this morning. A few more headlines to point out to you. Jury selection begins in the soninlaw. Ladens he was married to bin ladens daughter and was captured last year and brought to the United States on terrorism charges. Started monday in manhattan with jury selection. The most senior the modern adviser to be tried in civilian courts since the september 11 attacks. Out toer story to point the New York Times, Supreme Court agrees to weigh in on inmates right to grow a beard for religious reasons. The Supreme Court agreed to decide whether prison officials in arkansas may prohibit inmate or growing a beard in accordance to religious beliefs. The policy was challenged by gregory whole am a serving a life sentence for for three and battery. He said his muslim faith which fired him to grow a beard. Interesting part of that story. He filed a petition asking the justices to hear his case. You can hear more on that story in the New York Times. Jose on the line for democrats. Caller good morning. Leading in thet polls for the senate. Almost 40 . I dont see how cold hearted they arent, i dont see how they can be mean at anything at all. The money orll get something. Is of the things infrastructure investment. Investment in infrastructure to will go nations roads and bridges and so forth. We should do that, sir. The jobs itall of would create. Taxes as a result of the jobs. Every time the president proposes it, it is dead on arrival. President s do not even bring it to the floor. The republicans are idiots. The senatering up race in South Carolina. Who are you supporting . Lindsey graham of for reelection down there. Caller yes. The tea party opponent. I will not support his to party. A bunch of baloney. If Lindsey Graham wins the primary, would you support him in the general election . Caller depends on who he runs against. Would democrat, but i support him over his to party opponent, that is for sure. I strongly disagree with the tea party. Host calling in on the line for democrats. Ruth on the republican line from illinois. Good morning. Caller hello . Dontwondering why they say who actually shut the government down the last time it was shut down. Said it was obama and reid that shut the government down. Why dont they come out and say that . They did not say that. I would like them to quit blaming the republicans for that. How did the shutdown affect you . I want people to be honest about things. That was honest blaming the republicans for the last shutdown and they did not do it. They said it on tv, i heard is, obama and reid shut it down. Why dont they sell that some people know the truth. Go i would like to hear the truth once. [indiscernible] host why do you think it was obama and reid that shut it heardcaller because i someone say it on the television. One of the people that are supposed to know what he is talking about. I would like for them to come tell theay that and people the truth about what is really going on and not blame the republicans for everything. I would like to know the truth about what really is going on. Ruth in illinois talking about the Government Shutdown, be a subjectto continue to be debated on the campaign trail. Some of the numbers showing the cost of the shutdown. The Obama Administration says the Government Shutdown last nearly 8lted in million fewer visitors to National Parks, costing an estimated 414 million in lost in visitor spending. The report released monday. Five states, including arizona and california, lost 20 million during the shutdown. Reopen the National Park within the borders using state money. Nearlytates generated 10 in visitor spending for every dollar spent including utah kim arizona, colorado, self dakota and tennessee. South dakota. Going to joe in plymouth, michigan. Good morning. I got a lot of questions to ask. One question i have to ask, what whenresident obama means they have the hofmeister on him last year and said to the russian official, i will be more flexible after the election. What did he mean by that . I think he is in cahoots with putin. Damn thingoing a about the ukraine. He sits on the sidelines and plays golf. Marching in on ukraine. I do not know what he meant by put that if you could on fox news or cnn or msnbc and have people talk about that, some people will be thinking about what obama is all about. St the lead editorial in the Washington Times talking about the ukraine and the president s response. Likedent obama, writing jimmy carter before him, finally getting a late education and how the world works. The world is a dangerous place where history and greed trumped good intentions. Words are cheap. Ronald reagan believed in peace through strength, knowing if america was strong enough, evil and ambitious men would not be tempted to resolve temp the result. Star obama works on a much steeper learning curve, but learn he will, too. The American People and those who rely on us for the very existence us know we are therefore them. Did the ring and weakness lead to war that could have been avoided. What are your thoughts on that editorial . President obama needs to stand up for the American People and ukraine and israel. Will just east explode and obama will be sitting on his hands saying what can i do now . That is all i have to say host . Joe in michigan. Richard from South Carolina. On the line or independents. Good morning. Give you a little bit different perspective than most of the callers. Oblong of the television coverage. Crimea. Is from the i have been there many times. They still have the internet because a lot of things are coming out that is interesting. Andng been a war veteran, has been crazy to be on the side of the russians. Theod thank god russians came in to protect ethnic citizens. They say russians invaded it when they are ready have probably 20,000 troops there. They are protecting exactly what the crimea gave to them. What do you make of the comparisons between what is happening in crimea and the onuation in georgia caps caller i do not know enough about it to talk about it to tell you the truth. That is one of the problems. I look at the analogy. I was in the navy and went to guantanamo bay, cuba. I all of the cubans left and then decided after they got over to go back to havana to live the rest of their lives the way that they remember . All of a sudden castro and his regime decides to take the americans. You cannot speak english anymore, you have to speak in spanish. If they are threatened, what are the navy troops going to do . The you see my point . Holling and from South Carolina. That will be the last call today. We hope you join us back here tomorrow morning at 7 00 eastern. Ime, 4 00 pacific hope you have a great tuesday. [captioning performed by national captioning institute] [captions Copyright National cable satellite corp. 2014] it is budget day on capitol hill. 2015 budget officially arrives on capitol hill. Several events related to the budget will be carried live. We will tell you about that as well. The budget coming to capitol hill. The digital version available to members as well